Telescoping body



Oct; 5, 1937. HJL. ADAMS TELESGOPING BODY Filed Nov. 22, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. L. ADAMS Oct. 5, 1937.

TELESCOPING BODY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 22, 1,932

N EN Patented Oct. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to a flying machine, and the application is a continuation in part of my prior application Serial Number 461,412, filed April 14,1921, and'now matured into Patent No. 1,888,418.

' Theprimary object of the invention is to provide a flying machine which may be extended for flight, and retracted tofacilitate storage or transportation thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a; flying machine which may be extended or retracted in a-desired degree'during flight in order that the same maybe adjusted at will for proper safety when-landing or taking off; and to present a minimum of resistance during full flight.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flying machine of the character aforesaid in which certain of the parts are arranged in telescoping relation to certain other parts thereof.

A still further object is to provide a fuselage that quite apart of its rigidity is due to internal pressure.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flying machine inaccordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the" telescoping parts at; the rear of the flying" machine body.

Figure 3 is a's'ection taken on the line 33 of 30 Figure 2. I

Figure 4 Ba perspective detail of the tripod bracing forthe telescoping parts.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken on the line 55 ofFigure 2.

35 Figure 6 is an enlarged section taken on the line 66 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a modified form of control for the telescoping parts.

40 Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral l indicates a flying machine body which has alength substantially equal to the chord of the wings 2. That is, the fore and aft dimensions of the body and wings are substantially 45 equal. The body is in no way limited to the cord of the wing; Projecting rearwardly from the body I area plurality of bracing members 3, preferably three in number and converging rearwardly in the form of a tripod. The members 3 5 are securely fastened at their forward ends to the framing of or are extensions of the framing of body I,- and at their rearward ends to a collar 4 which-supports an elongated hollow member 5 at the rearward end of the latter. The member 5 5'"preferably is cylindrical'in form, and the forward end thereof is securely anchored in any suitable manner to the body I. The collar 4 may be formed integrally with the member 5 in the form of a flange, or may be a separate piece g as shown in Figure 4. The tripodbracing is not 5" an essential part of the device but a preferred form and shall preferably be tubing but any form of bracing may be used.

Slidingly extending through-the rearward end ,7 of the member 5 is a similar though smaller mem- 10 ber 7 provided at its forward end with lateralprojections 8 which fit within grooves 9 extending lengthwise of the member 5. The projections 8 and grooves 9 prevent any relative rotary-move- V ment between the members I and 5. Slidingly 15 extending through the rearward endof themember 1 is a rod l0 provided at its forward end with a head or piston ll having projections l2 fitting within grooves l3 extending lengthwise of the member 7. Any suitable number of projectionsg'o 8 and I 2 may be provided, with the number of grooves 9 and I3 corresponding to the number of projections 8 and 12 respectively. The rod I0 is adapted to support at its-rearward end a rudder indicated generallyat l4, and the member l is adapted to have suspended from its rearward enda rear support such as the ground engaging wheel mechanism-indicated generally at Hi.

The hol1ow"member Tmay be drawn into telescoping relation with' respect to the hollow member 5* by means ofa control line 22- secured to the forward end of the member I, and projecting through the hollow member 5 and into the body I to be within the readyr'eac'h of the operator.

By manipulation of the control line 22', the 1101 low member l'may be retracted and maintained in any position desired with respect to the hollow member 5'. A similar control line 23'issecured to'the' piston H. By manipulation of the control line 23 and release line 2|, the rod .Ifl may 40 be retracted and maintained in any position desired with respect to the hollow'member 1. Thus it will be seen that bythe selective manipulation of control lines 22; and 23, and release lines I 8 an-d'Z'I, the rod l0 and hollow member 1 may be retracted independently and selectively. The rod l0 and hollow member 1 both may be retracted within the hollow'member 5 byniea'n's'bf the control line 23. Suitable stops; such as 24 and 25". are providedrespectively at the forward endof the member! and at the rearward end of the member 51 Preferably the member 1 will be formed at its rearward end with-an inturned flange 2'6tog provide a'sto While the'drawings show a particular form for the"construc'tion of 5 v the forward part of the aircraftfthis construction is not a vital part of the invention and any structure may be used without departing from the essential features'ot the multiple telescoping line 21 havinga valve 28 is connected with the hollow. member afadjacent the inner endof the :latter. withthisconstruction, compressed fluid may be forced into the member 5wto extend hollow member: la and rod 10a, :or suction may be" created within the line 21 to retract hollow mem- I rear end for'supporting the rudder. r

, ixAll rods referred to may be and preferably shall i i be tubing, if desired without departing from the 'spirit of the invention. All tubes mayrhaveair pressure in them to give'added rigidity. V

In the modification showninFigure 7, a fluid berlla' and rod 10a. 'If desired, control'linesisuch- I as 22 and "23"heretofore described couldlberemand groovesfla' and l3a, are' provided which core respond'to'the similar parts heretofore describedf 25 Iployed for creating pressure or suction within 7 ployed to resist the pressure from fluid line Z'Lin member 1a and rod-10d. In'this form of strucorder to "selectively extend or retract the hollow ture,a1l parts such as the projectiens ila an d12a,

in connectionwith theform of invention shown in. Figure 2. Any suitable means may be em- Any type landing gear mayobviously be used on body I. The positionof wingsrelative tobody of this invention.

andithe shape ofthebodyare'not essential part5 ;I- Iaving,describd 'my invention, what I;claiin asnew,-and desire to secure by Letters Patent;

7 j i 1 7 it 7: r V 1;. n flying machine having a body and laterally extending wings, said body having a length sub-V stantially equal to the chord ofthe wings, a'jtubu 1ar member-' projecting centrally and rearwardly e401 flegs the' divergingends ofsa'idflegs being secured to said body andithe' other ends being secured ,offsaid body a tripodmember having diverging to th'e rear end o'f said tubular member to brace the same, a member telescoping within saidtubu- J j lar member and carrying steering mechanism and i a ground engaging'wheel, an'd'means for retracting and extending saidlastmentionedmember."

2. A flying machine having a body and later: 7 ally extending wings, said body having a length substantially equalto the chord of th'e Wings, 7 7 a tubular member projecting centrally and rearwardly of'said body atripod member having diverging legs, the diverging ends of said legs being secured to said body and the other ends being secured .to the rear end. of said tubular member to brace the same, a member telescoping within said;

I tubular :member and carrying steering mecha- Jnism andJa ground engagingl wheel; means for -retracting and I extending said last mentioned? member; and means for latching the telescoping members with jrespectto each other.

3.:A flying machine having abody and later telescoping within 'groui d en a ng lll hfiel carrying member, and meansi'forindependently extending said telescoping means;

retracting and extending said last mentioned 7 members.

4. A'flying machine having a' body and lat erally extending wings; said'bodyhaving a length substantially equal to the chord of the'wings, a

tubular member projecting centrally and rearwardly of said body, a tripod member having di-' verging legs, the diverging ends of said legsrbeing secured to said body and the other end being secured torthe rear end of said tubular member to brace the same, a member telescoping Within said tubular member and carrying the tail andrearg gi support for the machine; and means for'retr'actin'gand extending said last mentioned member; s

5. 1A flying machine having abody andlaterallyextending wings; said body having a length substantiallyequal to the chord of the wings, a tubular member'projecting rearwardly of said body, br acing members having their forward ends secured to, said body and the other ends secured to same, telescoping *means within said tubular .20 "the rear of said tubularjmember tobrace'the member and carrying steering mechanismandav 'groundjengaging wheel, andfmeans-for retracting:

and extending said telescoping means.

; 6. A flying machine having a body and laterally extended wings, a tubular member projecting- V n V rearwardly of said wings, bracing members having their forward ends secured to said body and r,

' the other ends secured to therear end of said tubular member to brace the same, a rear subport carrying member telescoping within said 7 tubular member; a steering mechanism carrying member telescoping within said rear support carryingmember, and meansfor independently retracting and extending said telescoping members;

- 1 7. A flyingmachine having a body and'laterally extending wings,;a tubulanmember projecting n V rearwardly ofsaid wings, bracing members hav ing their forward endssecured to said body, and] o the other ends secured to the roar-rend of said Q tubular member to brace the same-telescoping;

means within said tubular member and carrying steeringmechanismand, a ground engaging:

wheel, and hydraulic "means for retracting [and 8. A flying machine having a body andlaterally extendingwings, saidbody having its rear-7 ward end substantially-inalinement with the rear edges of the wings, a tubular member pro-1 jecting rearwardly of said body, rearwardlycon-, V verging braces having their forward ends secured to said body, and theotherends secured tot he" rear end of said tubular member to bracethe' same, and a telescoping device withinsaid tubular member, said device carrying steering mecha-. nism anda landing gear 9. In a'fiying machine, a body,

andincluding a stationary part'and a movable V a telescoping- I 1 extension projecting rearwardly from the body part,.tripod forming bracing members having their diverging ends secured to the body andfursame, said movable part telescoping within the stationary part and carrying a steering mecha- 10. A flying machine having abodyand lateringrearwardly ofjsaid V wings' tripod forming V bracing members-haying theirdiverging ends seally extending wings, a tubular member projectcured to said body and further-having their conlar member to brace'the latter,a steering mecha etherhaving their converging ends secured to the 7 rearrportion'of the'stationary part to brace the V, a

' nism, and a rear support, and; neans for retracting and extendingsaid movable part, 7 v

verging ends securedto the rear end of said tubu:

nism carrying means telescoping within said tubular member, and means for extending and retracting said steering mechanism carrying means.

11. A flying machine having a body and laterally extending wings, concentric telescoping tubular members projecting rearwardly of said body, a tripod member having diverging legs, the diverging ends of said legs being secured to said body and the other ends being secured to the rear end of said outer telescoping tubular memher to brace the same, a ground engaging wheel carrying member telescoping within said tubular member, a steering mechanism carrying member telescoping within said ground engaging wheel ally extending wings, concentric telescoping tubular members projecting rearwardly of said body, a tripod member having diverging legs, the diverging ends of said legs being secured to said body and the other end being secured to the rear end of said outer telescoping tubular member to brace the same, a member telescoping within said tubular member and carrying the tail and rear support for the machine, and means for retracting and extending said last mentioned member. HERBERT LUTHER ADAMS. 

